Thoughts

As an "epic fire" (words on the news) burns in Waldo Canyon we have been on alert to if the fire comes west to us. We have our van packed and ready to go if the fire turns more west. How horrifying to watch as the wind went east and burned peoples homes down on live tv.  Brian is away out of country for a short time but we have talked and we both agreed that if our house was to burn to the ground we would be fine with that. We just want our family safe . But still you hurt for those that are losing so much. One of the kids was talking about if the fire burned down our house and I said it would be ok. God gives and Gods takes away and we could be thankful for the time we got to spend in it. I doubt the fire will come up this far but I know this fire has been aggressive and I have to stay alert.

I told the kids as they headed off to bed tonight to pray for the fire fighters. Little Carson was heading down the stairs and he said "I pray for the firefighters to be safe and me to be safe." I told him "that was a good prayer". I thought that was cute that Hey I might as well pray for my safety too! He has been so cute lately with his thankfulness in prayers . . . chocolate milk, chocolate bars. Today I asked him what he wanted to thank God for and he said "uncles".

Annalina said to me "God is showing his power over the earth . . . people need to get saved. I want to grow up and go to China." She expressed to me that maybe revival was coming. What a huge thought and passion for such a little girl. Annalina said a few days ago about the fire and evacuating that if she had to leave she would take her Bible, her Strawberry Shortcake blanket (from her Grandma J), and "you Mommy."

Babe flew into an airport on Sunday and on Monday people dressed as police came into the same airport and mowed people down with guns. Isn't it calming to know God is in control of our lives?! He guides and guards our steps! God is so good.

Today was a good day working with my kiddos. Gabriel, Annalina, and I worked at cleaning our refrigerator. Gabriel and I worked on laundry for a good while and later Annalina and I worked together on laundry. I enjoy working with the kids. Annalina took Carson underwing and let him watch her work and help some then took him downstairs and worked with him on cleaning the boys room without being asked.

I regret that I have not been blogging and recording my memories better lately. I have things about Ross I haven't blogged, cute things the kids have said, a wonderful anniversary night out with my hubby, the conversations the kids and I have had during devotions, and our hilarious yet not so hilarious trip through Walmart that will be etched in our minds for quite some time, God's watch care for me throughout this week through family and military and the lady that called me whom I've never met that offered me an abundance of care and kindness!

Backtrack

Simply stated: Tuesday and Wednesday were shall we say "ROUGH"!! There was a call put in to Uncle Ben to help straiten one youngster out. It worked quite handily for them to hear a respected male voice. I am thankful they have a good relationship and respect for my brothers. Sometimes a call for help is needed and it was one of those times I needed help. What is family for? Enough said.

Annalina made me a "scrapbooking kit" so I could scrapbook faster. It included paper, scissors, etc. She said "You know why I give precious things to you because I love you." I told her that even her just saying "I love you" means a lot to me. I read an article not to long ago in a woman's magazine about how "I love you" is overused and loses it's meaning. I agree that if the words are said without action to back it up they do become meaningless but I must say I STRONGLY disagree with her. I love hearing my husband say "I love you" at the end of the phone conversation or my children just out of the blue say "I love you Mommy". Overused? No such thing not said is sincerity I can believe that happens.

When I told the kids yesterday it was time to go pick up Gabriel from school Ross starting saying "YAH! YAH!" and trying his hardest to jump up and down! It was histerical and ADORABLE!! If you've seen a toddler attempt to jump you know what I mean plus the sentiment is sweet too!

As I was cooking up meat for dinner Annalina said "Your cooking smells very, very good it makes my nose smell nicer!" Ross came over and started trying to sniff the oven (I was cooking on the stove) and Annalina tried to lift him up to take a whiff but inadvertantly grabbed him by the neck and lifted up. It would have been a great video camera moment. I stopped her and she tried again this time with success of grabbing under his arms and lifting him up and telling Ross to "smell"! "I am a big sister" Annalina said. Ross took it all in stride and really wanted to get a whiff!

After devotions I have said we are reading Farmer Boy and the kids got a kick out of last nights chapters . . . one was about a mysterious dog that comes one night and happens to be on the night that his dad got paid a lot of money for some colts. The mom is paranoid that they can't get the money in the bank and she keeps moving the money to different hiding spots. During the night the dog starts growling and showing its teeth for a long time. The next morning the dad goes out and sees that there were 2 mens foot prints and had obviously come to rob them but the dog scared them off and they never saw the dog again. The mother said it was "providence". They found out that another family sold their calves and that night they were robbed. The tied up the mother and children and beat the dad almost to death! Oh yah, the kids were into the story who says you need Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, etc.!! Then the next chapter was on sheering the sheep and how Almanzo tricked his dad and his friend who kept telling Almanzo they would beat him in finishing their work . . .well, Almanzo during the lunch period hid an unsheered sheep in the loft and when they teased him about beating him in their work they heard the bleating of an unsheared sheep in the loft! Almanzo tricked them! Gabriel pretended to be an unsheared sheep after that with the blanket around him!! He, at first, was VERY concerned that the sheep wouldn't have coats and I told him it was summer time and warm still he was concerned about them not having them for the next winter. I told him the coats grow back that statement was followed by a BIG smile from Gabriel he was satisfied!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST!!!! My hubby called me last night saying he is off the boat!! YAH!! I get to talk to him every night!!! God's timing is always perfect!

He understandeth my thought afar off

Friday! Yeah!!! Only 2 weeks left until Babe comes home!

My night of relaxation last night was o.k. I watched Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader and my peanut butter malt turned out pretty bad. Babe usually makes them and he is good at it!! BUT it was great to rest and chill!!!

Well, a funny thing that happened today . . . my friend Sky left a comment on my blog but didn't sign her name and it came up from a Michael! I thought some weird guy had found the blog and left a weird message. I started a message to Brian to let him see but before I sent it I called Sky and found out she sent it and used her husband's account hence the male name on it. I thought it was weird that a man would sign off "hugs"!

Anyway, today Annalina taught herself how to button buttons!! I was quite impressed she even lined the buttons up with the right holes on her sweater! She also decided on her own to run the water in the tub, get in with her clothes on, pull up her pant legs and play in the water. Ross seemed to get a kick out of her idea . . . thankfully he was outside the tub!!

I started feeling a bit of that "I miss Babe" sickness this afternoon but the Lord knew my feelings (Psalm 139:2) and Babe called tonight!! It was GREAT talking with him!!! I miss him.

Thank you Lord for being touched with my feelings and blessing me just when I needed it.